This week’s lesson was borrowed from fellow Poet In Residence Philip Berezney. Students came into our space giddy to share life updates and poems that they’ve been working on outside of our Tuesday space. After catching up, we first shared who comes to mind when we say “my people.” We chatted for a bit, then listened to a reading of Fatimah Asghar’s “If They Should Come For Us.” Students noted some of the individuals and communities that make an appearance in the poem, then brainstormed before writing some poems of their own. Check out some below:
Yea girl
Them my people
my tree bark
and fruit breeze
my ruler of breathless giggle
those my people
My people?
My people.
My people!
My people that are “loud”
My people that are “too proud”
Why shame my people for “our” confidence
and congrats. “Why” when you
know we can shame back.
Regardless of our demeanor,
Voice, and tude. We can,
will, did, and always see
an argument through and through.
“My people” is me, us,
and ours, that’s who.
